Humans may
prefer expressive robots to
competent ones, study finds
Humans may
prefer to work with
robots that can communicate and express emotions, even if that means they're less efficient, according to a
new study from University College London and the
University of Bristol.
Researchers tested how people reacted when
robots messed up a given task. They had participants work with three different versions (A, B and C) of the same robot, BERT2. Each would bring the
Humans ingredients to make an omelet: BERT A never erred, but BERT B and C both dropped an egg at some point.*
Only BERT C could communicate with the
Humans and say "I'm sorry." It would also be visibly dismayed at the mistake, with an exaggerated look of sadness displayed on its face. BERT C would then show that it was going to try a different approach to the task, thereby rectifying the mistake.*
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